<p>Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed New Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of the <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a>, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown.</p>.<p>"There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand," Ardern declared. "We have won that battle."</p>.<p>After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions -- with only essential services operating -- the country will move to Level Three late on Monday.</p>.<p>That will allow some businesses, takeaway food outlets and schools to reopen.</p>.<p>But Ardern warned there was no certainty about when all transmission can be eliminated, allowing a return to normal life.</p>.<p>Everyone wants to "bring back the social contact that we all miss", she said, "but to do it confidently we need to move slowly and we need to move cautiously."</p>.<p>"I will not risk the gains we've made in the health of New Zealanders. So if we need to remain at Level Three, we will."</p>.<p>The easing of restrictions came as New Zealand, a nation of five million people, reported only one new case of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,122 with 19 deaths.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimed New Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of the <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a>, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown.</p>.<p>"There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in New Zealand," Ardern declared. "We have won that battle."</p>.<p>After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions -- with only essential services operating -- the country will move to Level Three late on Monday.</p>.<p>That will allow some businesses, takeaway food outlets and schools to reopen.</p>.<p>But Ardern warned there was no certainty about when all transmission can be eliminated, allowing a return to normal life.</p>.<p>Everyone wants to "bring back the social contact that we all miss", she said, "but to do it confidently we need to move slowly and we need to move cautiously."</p>.<p>"I will not risk the gains we've made in the health of New Zealanders. So if we need to remain at Level Three, we will."</p>.<p>The easing of restrictions came as New Zealand, a nation of five million people, reported only one new case of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,122 with 19 deaths.</p>